James Q Jenkins

To elaborate on ace's observation, remember in the beginning we are shown Andy's backstory in a very vague way that deliberately does not show whether he's guilty or innocent. Very interesting. I like this movie but don't love it.

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-JQJ

Scott-C

I think Ace nailed it in terms of the narration of this movie. To answer the question "what is this movie really about", to me it was about hope. Here you have a guy whose life was almost destroyed, but he never really gave up hope that someday he'd get what he wanted (that hotel and boat in Mexico). For me, that was very inspiring, which is part of why I like this movie so much.

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Scott

Rob P S

My all-time favorite movie. I never pass up a chance to tell people that. Perfection from the first frame to the last.

Karl_Luph

Great movie except for the fact I can't stand Tim Robbins. Morgan Freeman makes this movie what it is. He should have won an oscar for his performance.

Steve_Tk

It's pretty good. Not as good as Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, but definately up there.

Alex Spindler

Yeah, we wouldn't want to get too carried away with adulation.

I keep The Shawshank Redemption among a very short list of perfect films.

John^Lal

I do believe i have Shawshank in my top 8 films, i think it is an absolute gem of a movie. i don't know why people want to knock something just because of it's simplicity. each of the characters represent something specific. i love all kind of films but the ones i like the most have real messages, and not open ended ones that answer no questions. simplicity answers questions.
i thought the green mile was a great film too. though not quite as good as shawshank. i don't know how many people have noticed the theme in the green mile about the way it plays itself out a lot like the crucifixion of jesus christ. with today being easter, i thought it was funny that i see a thread about shawshank redemtion and the green mile (Frank Darabont).

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Brian W.

Hmm... I've only seen it once, in the theater when it was first released. I did like it a lot, but... perfect. I guess that was my problem with it. A little too perfect.

I guess what pushed it over the edge for me was the end, when he meets up with Morgan Freeman. That was a bit too much of a crowd-pleaser, for a drama, anyway. It would have been better, in my opinion, to be left with the hope that he would find him, rather than this fairy tale ending.

I'm not a Frank Darabont fan. There is a certain slick, polished, too-perfect, by-the-numbers quality to his work that in my opinion puts him in the league of people like James Cameron, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, and Michael Bay -- brilliant technical directors, but, one, their technique shows, and two, I think they tell their stories WITH technique rather than with genuine emotion, and three, they cannot seem resist in-your-face sentimentality.

But, like I said, I did enjoy it, and I'd like to see it again.

Seth Paxton

While I quite enjoy Shawshank, it probably wouldn't make my top 100 or anything.

Words like "perfect" seem a bit extravagant to me when describing this "feel-good" film. Frankly, if we want to discuss perfect Capra-esque films then we would be better off starting with It's a Wonderful Life as a "perfect" film in that genre. We might even mention another film made from a King source, Stand By Me.

SR does go pretty high on my list of 90's films, but even there I would have Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction or Schindler's List on a different level than SR.

As for perfection, that idea makes ME think of films like Citizen Kane, Casablanca or Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Sorry I spoiled your Black Panther party, resume the love.

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imported_Christopher P

Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" synopsis

This is one of my favorite movie as well. Maybe not perfect, but there is very little that to me seems out of place. I would have liked to see the movie end as we see Red on the bus with his arm out the window, confident (as we are) that he will make it down to Mexico to see his friend. A nice counterpoint to how he (and Brooks earlier) sit on the bus after their release, afraid, unknowing.

I remember listening to an interview with a prison warden somewhere, and she thought this movie was a great portayal of prison life (barring - pun intended - the corrupt administration), especially the way the inmates form their little cliques, and their relationships with each other.

Chris

Sean Campbell

TSR is my favourite movie of the 90s. It survives multiple viewings even though the big twist in the tale can only be experienced once. One of the few movies that's actually better than the story which inspired it ( the original novella can be found in Stephen King's 'Different Seasons' ).

Steve Christou

A good film, but extremely overrated, I've never understood the adulation this film receives, good acting, an ok story, capable direction by Darabont, it's on the same level as The Green Mile, same author and director, both decent, well-made films but TSR has been ridiculously overpraised to the nth degree IMO.